Open-face mezuzah

ABSTRACT

An Open-Face Mezuzah, which goes beyond the utilitarian purpose of a standard mezuzah for several reasons. First, this Open-Face Mezuzah contains the Biblical script of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 inscribed on the exterior of the mezuzah itself rather than on a scroll placed inside, or behind, a traditional mezuzah. Thus, it more exactly embodies the command to “write [the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-5] on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Second, the Open-Face Mezuzah makes the message of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 understandable to non-Hebrew speaking people because the words, although first rendered in Hebrew, are also rendered in English below the Hebrew. Third, the Open-Face Mezuzah conveys to the guest entering the house that the family within the house believes in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. In addition to citing the Old Testament verses of Deuteronomy 6:4-5, it also cites the New Testament verses of Mark 12:29-30, which is a New Testament quote of Deuteronomy 6:4-5. Fourth, within the Pharisaic tradition, it is necessary to ensure that the scroll of Biblical verses be maintained in good condition. Hence, it is necessary to periodically remove the scroll and examine it to ensure it has not deteriorated. If it is deteriorated, it must be replaced. The Open-Face Mezuzah has no such requirement because the words are inscribed in metal, or other hard material, and do not easily deteriorate. In the chance event that the words do become damaged, it is readily evident because the words are on the outside.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

[0003] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVESTIGATION

[0004] U.S. C1 . . . 428/3

[0005] Field of Search . . . 428/3; 206/19, 232; D99/25

[0006] References: U.S. PAT. NO. DOCUMENTS 5,906,868 Akin 428/3 430,395McCarthy 428/3 4,004,547 Todd 428/3 235,683 Jeanne 428/3 2,876,559 Sloan428/3 170,218 Atterbury 428/3 2,650,445 Randall 428/3 6,006,900 Hasten206/19 2,520,661 Stanley 428/3 2,347,681 Goudrean 206/19 2,354,622Schwartz 428/3 2,514,739 Brennan 206/19 1,983,742 Dicks 428/3 2,637,438Menz, et. al. 206/19 1,239,405 Koptschny 428/3 1,573,663 Warren 206/2321,128,884 Lind 428/3 D. 419,746 Charny D99/25 1,112,640 Mix 428/3 D.166,400 Lawsky D99/25

[0007] Numerous mezuzahs are known in the art and they currently enjoywidespread usage throughout the world by those who closely followBiblical instructions contained in the Old Testament of the Bible. Whilehistorically mezuzahs have been used primarily by those of the Jewishfaith, the past several decades have witnessed a growing movement forother groups (e.g. Messianic Jews, Messianic Nazarenes, and manyChristian groups) to use them as well.

[0008] The primary Biblical instruction pertaining to the use ofmezuzahs is Deuteronomy 6:9, wherein is contained the commandment, “Andthou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”The “them” to which the commandment pertains are the words containedearlier in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD¹ our God², theLORD¹ is one: And thou shalt love the LORD¹ thy God² with all thineheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength.” A similarinstruction is given again in Deuteronomy 11:20. ≢¹“LORD” is rendered as“

” in the Open-Face Mezuzah. It is the Hebrew rendering for God's Name.²“God” is rendered “Elohim” in the Open-Face Mezuzah. It is the Englishtransliteration of the Hebrew “

”

[0009] The sect of the Pharisees—which came to be the predominant Jewishsect after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans—adopted thepractice of inscribing the words on a scroll rather than on the actualdoorpost or gate. The scroll was then rolled and put inside, or behind,a case (usually glass, wood, or metal) which is mounted to the doorpostor gate. Although the Hebrew word “mezuzah” technically means“doorpost,” the case containing the Biblical script has come to be knownas a “mezuzah.” A mezuzah is almost always inscribed with the Hebrewletter

(shin) and very often decorated with Judaic artwork.

[0010] There are four chief drawbacks to the traditional mezuzah, whichthe Open-Face Mezuzah will remedy. The first drawback of the traditionalmezuzah is the fact that the words of Deuteronomy 6:4 are not visible tothose coming into, and going out of, a house with such a mezuzah. Thus,unless a visitor is familiar with the traditions of Pharisaic Judaism,he/she will not even know that the words are there at all.

[0011] The second drawback of traditional mezuzahs is the fact that thescrolls, if they are seen, are written only in Hebrew and not able to beunderstood by people who do not understand Hebrew.

[0012] The third drawback of traditional mezuzahs is that they onlyindicate that the owner of a house displaying them believes in the OldTestament of the Bible. They give no indication that the owner of thehouse displaying them might also believe in the New Testament of theBible, a significant shortcoming for many New Testament believers. Thefourth drawback of traditional mezuzahs is the fact that the scrolls,themselves, tend to deteriorate over time and must be replaced. Thisnecessitates having to remove the traditional mezuzah from time to timeto inspect and, if necessary, to purchase a new scroll to replace thedeteriorated one.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The mezuzah of the present invention goes beyond the utilitarianpurpose of a standard mezuzah for several different reasons. First, this“open-face” mezuzah contains the Biblical script of Deuteronomy 6:4-5inscribed on the exterior of the mezuzah itself rather than on a scrollplaced inside, or behind, a traditional mezuzah. Unlike a traditionalPharisaic mezuzah, this “open-face” mezuzah more exactly embodies thecommand to “write [the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-5] on the doorposts ofyour house and on your gates.” It clearly displays the words for all tosee, rather than having them hidden in a rolled scroll behind a casing.Thus, it clearly conveys to any observer entering a house that the houseis dedicated to the God of the Bible.

[0014] Second, the “open-face” mezuzah makes the message of Deuteronomy6:4-5 understandable, to non-Hebrew speaking people because the words,although first rendered in Hebrew, are also rendered in English belowthe Hebrew.

[0015] Third, the “open-face” mezuzah conveys to the guest entering thehouse that the family within the house not only believes in the OldTestament of the Bible, but in the New Testament as well. In addition tociting the Old Testament verses of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as the origin ofthe words, it also cites the New Testament verses of Mark 12:29-30,which is a New Testament quote of Deuteronomy 6:4-5.

[0016] Fourth, within the Pharisaic tradition, it is necessary to ensurethat the scroll of Biblical verses be maintained in good condition.Hence, it is necessary to periodically remove the scroll and examine itto ensure it has not deteriorated. If it is deteriorated, it must bereplaced. The “open-face” mezuzah has no such requirement because thewords are inscribed in metal, or other hard material, and do not easilydeteriorate. In the chance event that the words do become damaged, it isreadily evident because the words are on the outside.

[0017] To the unknowing eye, the Open-Face Mezuzah might appear toresemble a normal plaque or wall hanging. However, the Open-Face Mezuzahis no more a plaque or wall hanging than a U.S. monetary coin is anormal medallion. When the words, “The United States of America,” “InGod We Trust,” and a value designation are added to an otherwise roundmedallion, it is transformed into a coin of currency and no longer amedallion. Similarly, a mezuzah is readily distinguishable from a plaqueor wall hanging for three reasons (please see attachment at p. 9 forseveral samples of regular mezuzahs). First, the Hebrew letter

(shin) inscribed at the top of the mezuzah to identify it as a mezuzahand distinguish it from a normal plaque or wall hanging. Almost everymezuzah produced has the letter

(shin) inscribed near its top (see for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,900and U.S. Pat. Des. 419,746). Second, the “open-face” mezuzah, like allother mezuzahs, has 2-4 holes bored all the way through it—specificallyfor the purpose of mounting it on doorposts and gates, in accordancewith the Biblical r commandment of Deuteronomy 6:9. Third, the utilityof the “open-face” mezuzah, like all other mezuzahs, comes from thenecessity to fulfill the Biblical commandment of Deuteronomy 6:9 withrespect to the words of Deuteronomy 6:4-5. The “open-face” mezuzahspecifically cites “Deuteronomy 6:4-5,” clearly defining it as a mezuzahand not a normal plaque or wall hanging.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0018] In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two embodimentsof the invention, it being understood that various other embodiments arecontemplated.

[0019]FIG. 1 shows the front view of the “open-face” mezuzah embodyingthe various features of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the mezuzah of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 shows a front view of a modification;

[0022]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the mezuzah of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An Open-Face Mezuzah embodying various features of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the Hebrew letter

(shin) 10 is inscribed at the top of the mezuzah to identify it as amezuzah. There are 3-4 holes 15 bored all the way through themezuzah—specifically for the purpose of mounting it on doorposts andgates, per the Biblical commandment of Deuteronomy 6:9. The words fromDeuteronomy 6:4-5 are inscribed, both in Hebrew 20 and in English³ 25.The Biblical citations of “Deuteronomy 6:4-5” 30 and “Mark 12:29-30” 35are both inscribed at the bottom.

What I claim as my invention is:
 1. An Open-Face Mezuzah, made frommetal, glass, wood, ceramic, or other hard material, containing thetraditional Hebrew letter

(shin) together with the externally-inscribed words from Deuteronomy6:4-5 in Hebrew and in English, and holes for mounting.
 2. An Open-FaceMezuzah, made from metal, glass, wood, ceramic, or other hard material,containing the traditional Hebrew letter

(shin) together with the externally-inscribed words from Deuteronomy6:4-5 in either Hebrew, English, or a combination of both languages, andholes for mounting.
 3. An Open-Face Mezuzah, made from metal, glass,wood, ceramic, or other hard material, containing the traditional Hebrewletter

(shin) together with the externally-inscribed words from Deuteronomy6:4-5 in either Hebrew, English, or a combination of both languages, andwithout holes for mounting. Mounting to be otherwise contemplated.
 4. AnOpen-Face Mezuzah in accordance with claim(s) 1-3 that is substantiallyshaped as shown in FIG. 1, or in any other geometric shape, or in theshape of a scroll.